Given $6500 for classes; what should I do?

Hi,

I work as an AmeriCorps VISTA and one of the 'perks' ended up being getting two matched Individual Development Accounts. The money is restricted to several uses, one being education (not tuition).

I have an M.Ed. in Instructional Design from Mizzou and a BA in Writing and Rhetoric from George Mason University. I am definitely a generalist but I might want to do an MPA in the future. I live in an area where healthcare is a big industry, too. I'm interested in project management, as well.

Are there any online graduate certificates (or even degrees??) that fit into this price range and are from regionally accredited schools?

 

So, you first choice would be Public Administration, second is Healthcare, and third is Project Management.

- Voldesta State University has prefect Certificate, MPA, and DPA in Public Administration for you. URL: https://www.valdosta.edu/colleges/arts-sciences/public-administration/
- I would not recommend to get a certificate or Master in Project Management. I have seen that the most employable Project Management is Project Management Professional (PMP) certification and experiences. A Master in Project Management does not do a good thing or bad thing.

 

The MBA is the most versatile degree, no? There's a bunch with Healthcare concentrations if you like.

 

PMP is, indeed, valuable. Aside from showing you understand the theoretical side of Project Management it also ostensibly weeds out the inexperienced (I've seen plenty of people manipulate the experience requirement).

A Masters in Project Management is a fine credential to have. The best option? Maybe not. The PMP will get you a job as a Project Manager. The MSPM will help tip the scale for you to work in another field where project management skills are sought after.

That said, second Masters degrees very often have a diminishing return. The first Masters pretty much qualifies you for the job. The second one is very very expensive icing for your resume cake.

 

What state are you located in? There are a number of quality MPA programs that are offered online from state institutions and $6500 could cover most of the in-state tuition in many cases.

 

We have a bunch of threads on MPA programs . . .

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/11244-mpa-vs-mba.html

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/37064-mpa-confusion-multiple-questions.html

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/43948-online-mpa-program-better.html

 

This I cannot intuit. Does the money cover more than tuition?

 

My understanding that the money is only for tuition and nothing else such as fees like technology fees, transcript fees, textbooks, industrial certification, vocation classes, and etc. There are such companies out there do not reimburse for educational costs except tuition. I used to work for a company likes that, you have to show them the invoice statement along with online tuition information.

 

That would be the norm but seems not to be what was said.